Chain skips on all gears
 

Well i have come to realize that my cassette MIGHT need new pawls but not exactly sure yet.

What happens is that my chain only skips when there's high torque involved (ie: climbing hills). Most of the time, just cruising is fine, but when i need to speed up and crank harder, it skips. Im almost certain its pawls, but can it possibly be anything else? (ie: hub worn)

Worn out chain?

Doubt it. Was working fine on old 6 speed freewheel. Just converted to 700c so i bought these wheels used. Its 8sp and rear derailleur also shifts through all 8 gears fine.

Sound like your chain and cassette don't like each other - might have to replace both ;-/

Could be a problem with the used 700c wheel freewheel/cassette being worn. The previous owner let the chain "stretch", and the cogs wore to the elongated chain. Then when you put the wheel on, these cogs no longer matched the chain. Your description of chain skip while under load is indicative of an unmatched chain and cog set.

if chain and every thing it touches are new, then they should be fine ... break up the set and the problems arise...
replace the chain more frequently is the solution

Ok well lets just say it isnt the chain, not really...but in theory for now. Reason is because i dont even remember the chain ever coming off though as i was pedaling while looking down. Its more like a slight pop, then something re-engages again and i keep moving. I just dont see how a chain can even pop off with like 20 links wrapped around the cassette with tension on it.

Worn out cassette.

"OLD 6 speed freewheel" - For what reason would you think the chain is not worn? It's simple enough to check and determine yea or nay.

"It's 8sp and.." The chain was on a 6 speed freewheel - so is it a 6 speed chain on an 8 speed cassette?

The condition you describe (chain popping or skipping when under load) is the classic sign the chain and cogs not meshing properly. The chain does not come off the cassette, but will "skip" or slip when load is applied. Usually, this is common when one replaces a new chain on an old cassette.

All in all a new chain is a cheap way to eliminate one possilble cause. Also most would suggest that an old 5/6 speed chain is a little "thick" for use on an 8 speed setup. Under load the chain may be shifting over and catching on the next sprocket and that could lift it up and then let it snap back down.

There's another thought too. If he's sure that it is skipping equally on all the gears then it sounds like it could be the freehub pawls not engaging correctly. Rust, dried up old grease/oil or grit that found its way into the freehub could be preventing one or more of the pawl from engaging the teeth correctly.

You'd need to have a good feel for what a freehub should feel like and a good ear to hear if anything is wrong. Or you could remove the freehub from the wheel hub and flush it out and oil it by working it in baths of solvent followed by oil. If it is the freehub pawls the risk would be that the skipping you've already has has done too much damage already so even this flushing and re-oiling may not fix the issue.

Alright, well looks like ill try chain first. I jsut hope its not the hub that is damaged. Hub swap is way more expensive compared to pawls, chain, and cogset.

I also did take it apart and looked inside. The pawls did looked a bit worn because the tops of their teeths looked a bit polished rather than same color as the rest of the teeth body.